The conclusions of the synthesis report make for some dire reading. Four major findings stand out:
- over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on earth;
- the changes to the ecosystems have contributed to net gains in human well-being and economic development, but also to growing costs in the form of degradation of many ecosystem services, increased risks of nonlinear changes and the exacerbation of poverty for some groups of people. These problems, if not addressed, will substantially diminish the benefits that future generations obtain from ecosystems;
- the degradation of ecosystem services could grow significantly worse during the first half of this century and is a barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals;
- radical changes in institutions and policies are needed to reverse these trends.
A good summary of the UN's report has been produced by EurActiv's partner Greenfacts.org.
